Autonomous rescue vehicle

Abstract

An aquatic rescue vehicle formed by adding directional and speed controls to a watercraft along with an autonomous control system to guide the vehicle to specified waypoints is disclosed. The rescue vehicle includes search devices such as a radio direction finder (RDF) and an infrared sensor (or camera) to be used to narrow the search for an isolated person (IP). The rescue vehicle may be discharged from a larger watercraft or an airplane and autonomously set out on its rescue mission. The vehicle may first navigate to a designated waypoint near an IP, and then use signals gathered from the RDF and infrared sensor to finally locate, assist, and retrieve the IP. The vehicle also includes a self-righting mechanism so that the vehicle can complete its mission even under the most adverse conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An autonomous aquatic rescue vehicle comprising:
 a) a watercraft comprising a vessel body with a motor, a propulsion mechanism that is operatively connected to the motor, and a steering mechanism joined to said vessel body, wherein said watercraft comprises at least one seat for a person to ride in or on said watercraft; 
 b) a speed control joined to said watercraft and in communication with said motor; 
 c) a directional control joined to said watercraft and in communication with said steering mechanism; 
 d) an autonomous control system on board said watercraft and in operative communication with said directional and speed controls; 
 e) a search device joined to said watercraft; and 
 f) a detachable component joined to said watercraft for automatically self-righting the watercraft if the watercraft is tipped over, said detachable component comprising:
 a non-inflatable buoyant structure that comprises at least one of: (1) a buoyant material and (2) materials that are arranged into a buoyant configuration; and 
 at least one connecting mechanism joined to said buoyant structure that is configured to detachably connect the buoyant structure to the watercraft. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The aquatic rescue vehicle of  claim 1  wherein said watercraft is a personal watercraft that comprises a hull and a deck, wherein the motor is disposed between the hull and the deck, and the steering mechanism is in the form of handlebars and the speed control comprises a throttle on the handlebars. 
     
     
       3. The aquatic rescue vehicle of  claim 1  wherein said search device comprises at least one of a radio direction finder and an infrared sensor. 
     
     
       4. The aquatic rescue vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the watercraft comprises a hull and a deck, and the buoyant structure comprises an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, and sides extending at an angle from said top portion, wherein said sides have free end portions, wherein the sides are joined to the watercraft and the top portion of the buoyant structure is disposed vertically above and spaced away from the deck of the watercraft. 
     
     
       5. An autonomous aquatic rescue vehicle comprising:
 a) a watercraft comprising a vessel body with a motor, a propulsion mechanism that is operatively connected to the motor, and a steering mechanism joined to said vessel body, wherein said vessel body comprises a hull and a deck; 
 b) a speed control joined to said watercraft and in communication with said motor; 
 c) a directional control joined to said watercraft and in communication with said steering mechanism; 
 d) an autonomous control system on board said watercraft and in operative communication with said directional and speed controls; 
 e) a search device joined to said watercraft; and 
 f) a detachable component joined to said watercraft for automatically self-righting the watercraft if the watercraft is tipped over, said detachable component comprising:
 a non-inflatable buoyant structure that comprises at least one of: (1) a buoyant material and (2) materials that are arranged into a buoyant configuration, wherein the buoyant structure comprises an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, and sides extending at an angle from said top portion, wherein said sides have free end portions, wherein the sides are joined to the watercraft and the top portion of the buoyant structure is disposed vertically above and spaced away from the deck of the watercraft, and said buoyant structure has a tunnel-shaped configuration and the top portion of the buoyant structure is spaced a sufficient distance away from the deck of the watercraft so that a person can fit under the tunnel-shaped buoyant structure; and 
 at least one connecting mechanism joined to said buoyant structure that is configured to detachably connect the buoyant structure to the watercraft. 
 
 
     
     
       6. A method of rescuing a person on a body of water, said method comprising the steps of:
 1) Providing an autonomous aquatic rescue vehicle comprising:
 a) a watercraft comprising a vessel body with a motor, a propulsion mechanism that is operatively connected to the motor, and a steering mechanism joined to said vessel body, wherein said watercraft comprises at least one seat for a person to ride in or on said watercraft; 
 b) a speed control joined to said watercraft and in communication with said motor; 
 c) a directional control joined to said watercraft and in communication with said steering mechanism; 
 d) an autonomous control system on board said watercraft and in operative communication with said directional and speed controls; 
 e) a search device joined to said watercraft, wherein the search device is configured to gather signals relating to the location of a person or object that is the subject of a search; and 
 f) a detachable component joined to said watercraft for self-righting the watercraft if the watercraft is tipped over, said detachable component comprising:
 a non-inflatable buoyant structure that comprises at least one of: (i) a buoyant material and (ii) materials that are arranged into a buoyant configuration; and 
 at least one connecting mechanism joined to said buoyant structure that is configured to detachably connect the buoyant structure to the watercraft; 
 
 
 2) deploying the autonomous rescue vehicle onto the body of water in the general location of a person isolated on a body of water; 
 3) allowing the vehicle to autonomously navigate to a designated waypoint near the isolated person using said autonomous control system; 
 4) Receiving signals from the search device to locate the isolated person; 
 5) navigating the autonomous rescue vehicle to the location of the isolated person so that the isolated person is within reach of the rescue vehicle; and 
 6) Providing the isolated person with the use of the autonomous rescue vehicle to return to safety with the option of detaching the detachable component from the watercraft, or using the watercraft with the detachable component joined thereto. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein the watercraft is a personal watercraft that comprises a hull and a deck, wherein the motor is disposed between the hull and the deck, and the steering mechanism is in the form of handlebars and the speed control comprises a throttle on the handlebars. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6  wherein the watercraft comprises a hull and a deck, and the buoyant structure comprises an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, and sides extending at an angle from said top portion, wherein said sides have free end portions, wherein the sides are joined to the watercraft and the top portion of the buoyant structure is disposed vertically above and spaced away from the deck of the watercraft. 
     
     
       9. A method of rescuing a person on a body of water, said method comprising the steps of:
 1) Providing an autonomous aquatic rescue vehicle comprising:
 a) a watercraft comprising a vessel body with a motor, a propulsion mechanism that is operatively connected to the motor, and a steering mechanism joined to said vessel body; 
 b) a speed control joined to said watercraft and in communication with said motor; 
 c) a directional control joined to said watercraft and in communication with said steering mechanism; 
 d) an autonomous control system on board said watercraft and in operative communication with said directional and speed controls; 
 e) a search device joined to said watercraft, wherein the search device is configured to gather signals relating to the location of a person or object that is the subject of a search; and 
 f) a detachable component joined to said watercraft for self-righting the watercraft if the watercraft is tipped over, said detachable component comprising:
 a non-inflatable buoyant structure that comprises at least one of: (i) a buoyant material and (ii) materials that are arranged into a buoyant configuration, wherein the buoyant structure comprises an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, and sides extending at an angle from said top portion, wherein said sides have free end portions, wherein the sides are joined to the watercraft and the top portion of the buoyant structure is disposed vertically above and spaced away from the deck of the watercraft, and said buoyant structure has a tunnel-shaped configuration and the top portion of the buoyant structure is spaced a sufficient distance away from the deck of the watercraft so that a person can fit under the tunnel-shaped buoyant structure; and 
 at least one connecting mechanism joined to said buoyant structure that is configured to detachably connect the buoyant structure to the watercraft; 
 
 
 2) deploying the autonomous rescue vehicle onto the body of water in the general location of a person isolated on a body of water; 
 3) allowing the vehicle to autonomously navigate to a designated waypoint near the isolated person using said autonomous control system; 
 4) receiving signals from the search device to locate the isolated person; 
 5) navigating the autonomous rescue vehicle to the location of the isolated person so that the isolated person is within reach of the rescue vehicle; and 
 6) providing the isolated person with the use of the autonomous rescue vehicle to return to safety with the option of detaching the detachable component from the watercraft, or using the watercraft with the detachable component joined thereto. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the front portion of said buoyant structure is open and the rear portion of said buoyant structure comprises a rear wall that extends at an angle from the top portion as do the sides, and the rear wall is joined to the sides of said buoyant structure at said rear portion. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the connecting mechanism comprises a first group of fastening components that are joined to the watercraft and a second group of fastening components that are joined to the buoyant structure, wherein the fastening components in the first group mate with the fastening components in the second group, and at least some of the fastening components in the first and second groups are joined to each other with releasable securing components. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the rear wall of the buoyant structure has a handle joined to the outside surface of said rear wall, and the method further comprises detaching the detachable component from the watercraft by disengaging the releasable securing components and removing the detachable component from the watercraft with one hand using the handle on the rear wall of the buoyant structure. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 6  further comprising a step of autonomously returning the person to a specified location on said vehicle. 
     
     
       14. A method of rescuing a person on a body of water, said method comprising the steps of:
 1) Providing an autonomous aquatic rescue vehicle comprising:
 a) a watercraft comprising a vessel body with a motor, a propulsion mechanism that is operatively connected to the motor, and a steering mechanism joined to said vessel body; 
 b) a speed control joined to said watercraft and in communication with said motor; 
 c) a directional control joined to said watercraft and in communication with said steering mechanism; 
 d) an autonomous control system on board said watercraft and in operative communication with said directional and speed controls; 
 e) a search device joined to said watercraft, wherein the search device is configured to gather signals relating to the location of a person or object that is the subject of a search; and 
 f) a detachable component joined to said watercraft for self-righting the watercraft if the watercraft is tipped over, said detachable component comprising:
 a non-inflatable buoyant structure that comprises at least one of: (i) a buoyant material and (ii) materials that are arranged into a buoyant configuration; and 
 at least one connecting mechanism joined to said buoyant structure that is configured to detachably connect the buoyant structure to the watercraft; 
 
 
 2) deploying the autonomous rescue vehicle onto the body of water in the general location of a person isolated on a body of water; 
 3) allowing the vehicle to autonomously navigate to a designated waypoint near the isolated person using said autonomous control system; 
 4) receiving signals from the search device to locate the isolated person; 
 5) navigating the autonomous rescue vehicle to the location of the isolated person so that the isolated person is within reach of the rescue vehicle; 
 6) providing the isolated person with the use of the autonomous rescue vehicle to return to safety with the option of detaching the detachable component from the watercraft, or using the watercraft with the detachable component joined thereto; and 
 7) permitting the rescued person to manually pilot the rescue vehicle to a safe location.